Herb Weavers Journal #60 - Alfalfa - 14th Jan 2025

Herbs For Healing

Alfalfa - medicago sativa

Alfalfa has been shown to help lower cholesterol and may also have benefits for blood sugar management and relieving symptoms of menopause. People also take it because it contains antioxidants, as well as nutrients like vitamin A, B1, B2, C & K, Copper, folate, Potassium, Calcium and Iron, high levels of magnesium, fibre and Proteins.
It is very very low in calories and is filled with enzymes such as Amylase, Lipase, Protase, Coagilase, Emulsion, Invertase, Peroxidase, Pectinaze and Cellulose all of which help the gut, gallbladder, liver and other main systems of the body.

Mainly we eat the sprouted seeds, the rest is used as animal feed.

The name alfalfa comes from Arabic, Persian, and Kashmiri words that mean "best horse fodder" and "horse power."

This plant can help improve blood clotting, a single serving of alfalfa provides 13% of your recommended daily allowance of Vit K, which is an important vitamin for blood clotting. Vitamin K, along with chlorophyll and iron, also promotes blood production, which could be helpful if you have anemia. If you take the blood-thinning medication, always check with your GP before consuming.

Free radicals are unstable molecules found in our body. Our body can naturally make them as a response to stress or inflammation. They can also enter your body from toxins like tobacco smoke, pesticides, and air pollution. Free radicals lead to cell damage, which can raise your your risk of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes. The antioxidants in alfalfa can help fight free radicals and could help protect your body from those diseases.

Alfalfa is also rich in fibre which helps to control blood sugar levels by slowing the speed at which glucose is absorbed into your gut. That doesn't mean you should eat alfalfa and stop taking insulin!

It also helps to lower inflammation, cholesterol and UTI's. For women it helps regulate the symptoms of menopause and supports healthy hair and skin.

It can be incorporated into our diets by using the alfalfa sprouts, ready made tinctures, which are a very strong liquid extract, or in capsule and tablet form. Some health food stores sell it in a powdered form, which can be added to foods like smoothies, soups and cakes, herbal tea form is also popular and any natural sweetener can be added to enhance the flavour.